Aussies worry about credit card security

Australians are more worried about thieves stealing their bank or credit card details than terrorist attacks but do little to protect themselves, a survey shows.

More than half of all Australians say their top security fears are about people accessing or misusing their personal details as well as credit/debit card fraud.

By contrast, 45 per cent are concerned about Australia's national security in relation to war or terrorism.

The findings have been published in the latest quarterly report on security by computer systems group Unisys.

Based on the results of a national Newspoll survey carried out last month, 55 per cent of the 1,200 people polled named the misuse of personal details as their number one security concern.

Fifty-three per cent said they were very or extremely concerned about credit/debit card fraud.

But Unisys Asia Pacific vice-president Andrew Barkla said the survey also found most people were doing little to protect themselves from identity theft or card fraud.

He said the survey found many people never shredded or ripped up their bills, bank and credit card statements or other documents with their personal details on them before throwing them out.

One in three also used a birthday for electronic PIN numbers.

"Most of us are concerned and aware of transacting online, but it's been reported that a significant amount of identity theft begins with what you throw out in the garbage," Mr Barkla.

"What we found was one in five Australians don't destroy their bank statements or bills before they put them in the bin, which is a bit dangerous.

"One of the concerns is that for most people they are unaware they are a victim until many, many months after an incident has happened."

Mr Barkla said he believed concerns about identity theft and card fraud were playing more on people's minds because they carried out banking, bill paying and shopping transactions daily.

It had also been a few months since the most recent terror scare in August, when British police uncovered an alleged plot to blow up to 12 aircraft in mid-flight between Britain and the US.

"I think what's happened is people have relaxed after that heightened period of concern and people have settled back to a relaxed state as it relates to national security," Mr Barkla said.

The survey found that more people aged over 50 were worried about terrorism and war than 18-to-34-year-olds.

Among the other fears held by Australians were concerns about a serious health epidemic hitting the country.

One third of those surveyed were worried about this, with low to middle-income earners and older people expressing the most concern.

About a quarter of people also worried about their ability to meet financial obligations and 16 per cent had fears for their personal safety.